| [IC] The Joint Inspection |
The Emperor's armored guardians turned their gaze briefly towards the two Stoinian, steely and impassive as ever before looking forward once more, subtly sending a message through their helm commlink to the palace.
The insectoid pilot, Krrzek, soon entered the shuttle, their body language suggesting they were more than a little flustered at the Emperor's compliments. "Shall we, gentlemen?" He smiled warmly as he motioned into the shuttle, gently offering a hand to Teemas to help her aboard. Chivalry, it seemed, was a universal constant, doubly so for the young Drakari Emperor.
The Stoinians seemed a bit reluctant, but followed after Teemas. They regained their focus, but had trouble focussing from all the clicks the insectoids made. They made forced smiles while entering the shuttle, but maintained their calm. As far as they new, they might as well enjoy the ride they were about to have. Although that insectoid clatter still persisted.
Pacifica: Myria, Sallodesia, Stoinia • A1-0: Stoinian Star Kingdom • Aurora: Kingdom of Threnebor
"Initiating take-off procedures, our Emperor." Despite being the sole occupant of the cockpit, the curious alien continued to refer to itself in the plural form. Most unusual...
Julianus leaned back into his seat, casually wrapping his sinuous tail around the base as he smiled at his guests. His bodyguards silently sat down nearby, relaxing their grip on their weapons ever so slightly. "Now then, gentlemen, shall I offer some music during our flight? We've a wide variety of genres and tunes to fit the tastes of most people." He chuckled playfully. "Except, of course, those who have a perverse love of," he shuddered, "turbolift music..."
The Stoinians were thrown off balance. It as clear now, the Drakari Emperor was more easy going than his Stoinian counterpart. Vujić was clearly not quite comfortable with the situation, he expected silence as was expected by an efficient militarist. He masked his social discomfort as best he could, but Berrocal couldn't help but notice it. Berrocal on the other hand saw this as an opportunity, a chance to soften up the Drakari's enthusiasm and perhaps exploit it in deals yet to come.
Berrocal smiled at the Emperor's joke. "I am afraid we aren't that intrigued by your turbolift music. Perhaps we could enjoy something more sophisticated... Do you Drakari have opera? If so than it definitely is worth listening to, given that the only races who tried to make us go extinct didn't have opera." Pacifica: Myria, Sallodesia, Stoinia • A1-0: Stoinian Star Kingdom • Aurora: Kingdom of Threnebor
"Ah, opera... one of the best ways to adapt ancient stories and poems to a visual medium faithfully, in my opinion." The young Drakari's smile did not abate as he waved a clawed hand over the armrest of his chair, prompting a holographic interface to flicker into existence. Each tap and swipe caused the image to practically flow like a stream of blue light, unbothered by the movements of the shuttle as it eased out of its hangar.
"I think you'll like this one. It's proven to be quite popular among those who appreciate a heroic ethos." He tapped once more, the music slowly fading in, followed by a rich baritone singer. The language of the aria, undoubtedly the primary tongue of the Drakari, flowed with a tone both growling and beautiful, stern yet wistful. Even without the translation that popped up mere milliseconds into the recording, the Stoinians would recognize the theme: a legion's commander, leading a heroic final stand in the name of his far-off home, confronting his doubts about the plan one last time before strengthening his resolve. As the aria dragged on, the singer would let out a heartwrenching lament of the banners caught high in the sun and morning breeze, how he would never see the city of his fathers again, regretting that he would never again feel his mate's tender embrace or hear the laughter of his children. In the end, though, he would do this last act of service in their name, confident that the gods would reunite them one day. One of the Emperor's guards, despite their stoicism, cracked a smile so faint that had it not been for the single tear that streaked down the side of their snout it might not have been noticed.
The Stoinians were stupefied by the holographic technology. Vujić more so than Berrocal. It seemed that most star nations had this technology. Berrocal would try to ensure a better deal on this technology than the Stoinian-Ryccian Trade Deals. However the thoughts of wonder wuickly became something else.
Vujić's ears didn't quite like the Drakari's singing method as he visibly shivered for a millisecond. Braking his stern posture, his hand went towards his ears, but promptly stopped any further action as to not insult the Emperor or Drakari culture. The growling wasn't like anything he had heard before. Truly, this might have been the devil's own work if you asked Vujić. How could they butcher such a fine art? Berrocal was mentally prepared however. He knew something like this could be expected and embraced it. Unlike Vujić he wasn't completely dismissing it and studied the translation of the aria. He began to identify the same values they shared in the song. He was quite intrigued. "Quite interesting. I think I speak for most Stoinians when I say that we certainly appreciate the theme. Indeed quite a work of art you have here. In a way it is quite similar to our own anthem and many military songs. Though I am not quite sold on your methods of singing. Perhaps that will change over time." Pacifica: Myria, Sallodesia, Stoinia • A1-0: Stoinian Star Kingdom • Aurora: Kingdom of Threnebor
"Every species and culture has its own tastes, I'll admit, but that's what makes the galaxy wonderful, after all. It will be interesting what may come from a number of cultural exchanges, if I do say so myself." The Emperor smiled as he dismissed the hologram with a wave of his hand, his warm, gold-red eyes briefly flicked over to the Vice Admiral. Working against the human's xenophobia would take time, and would no doubt require a more... experienced hand.
Perhaps Cassian, or someone more military minded... "As for themes, it's difficult to say 'no' to tales of heroism, doomed love, or selfless sacrifice. From what I have seen, they may as well be universal constants."
Make the galaxy wonderful?! How ignorant can these lizards get?
Vujić thought to himself. He didn't quite like the tone of the Emperor. Then again that is why Berrocal was the Legate and empowered to make decision without being blinded by xenophobia. Vujić was able to keep this to himself and keep his military posture. He would let Berrocal do the talking. "It's good to hear that not all parts of the sector are inhabited by barbaric species wishing your death. The universal constants that we saw before making contact with peaceful star nations are pillaging and extermination. Don't get me wrong, I like the change of scenery. But I suspect your current values didn't happen overnight within all your Protectorate Species." Berrocal was gambling here, he wanted to learn more about the Drakari history to better understand them. How ever this way of phrasing might have been an insult to most Ryccies, he suspected it wouldn't hit a nerve of the Drakari Emperor. Pacifica: Myria, Sallodesia, Stoinia • A1-0: Stoinian Star Kingdom • Aurora: Kingdom of Threnebor
"That would depend on who you ask, truth be told. The Carsicoid, Krrzek's species," he motioned to the cheerful insectoid in the cockpit, "were quite quick to accept the idea of peaceful coexistence and cooperation. It appealed to their psychology of putting the good and needs of the whole before the fears and hatreds of the few."
"The Sosa were a tad bit different in that regard due to a small number of clans believing they were stronger on their own. Most, however, followed the wisdom of a popular proverb emphasized by their chieftains and shamans: the lone vorn hound falls, but the pack endures together."
So they know what to expect from us. Though I doubt they will comprehend the Mardakii situation. Something best left untouched for now.
"Interesting, that proverb is quite similar to some of our own. Were there open rebellions from these rebellious Sosa clans later on?" Berrocal was interested if there ever happened an open rebellion against the Drakari. Pacifica: Myria, Sallodesia, Stoinia • A1-0: Stoinian Star Kingdom • Aurora: Kingdom of Threnebor
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